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Ministry: Shamineau Ministries
Location: Motley, MN
Project: Financial Restructuring
Story: Have you ever been to summer camp? Those of us fortunate
enough to have had that opportunity usually consider it a life changing
experience. Add to that going to Bible camp and the impact and
importance of a camp experience knows no limits!
Shamineau Ministries is an organization that currently runs multiple
locations in Minnesota with camp experiences year round – reaching out
to kids, youth, families and anyone that God brings their way. Shamineau
Ministries mission statement is “Clearing a Way to the Cross.” There
come a times for all ministries where fulfilling their stated mission
comes against significant challenges. For Shamineau Ministries, some of
those challenges came in the form of finances.
Shamineau Ministries started out at Buffalo Lake Bible Camp in 1914 and
eventually moved to Camp Shamineau in 1957, expanded to include Rock
Ridge Camp in 1999 and Shamineau International in 1993. God has truly
blessed Shamineau Ministries by expanding its geographic presences.
Expansion is exciting to be a part of and growing pains are very real.
Herb Bloomquist, Shamineau Ministries Executive Director, shares “Our
partnership with Christian Investors came at a crucial time in our
ministry’s life.” The camp had acquired a debt load that was impacting
its ability to minister. “Securing a loan with [CIF] allowed us to
restructure our debt load into manageable payments. This allowed us to
focus our energy on ministry rather than being consumed by the immediate
financial concerns,” explains Herb.
As affiliates of the EFCA, CIF and Shamineau Ministries continue to work
together to improve the financial picture for Shamineau Ministries and
help Shamineau to move forward in its mission. As a direct result of the
debt restructuring, not only has Shamineau been operating in the black
for the past 3 years, according to Herb, but they have also established
a scholarship endowment and a emergency fund! Both of these funds are
invested with CIF. Herb goes on to share that Shamineau Ministries chose
to invest with CIF because of the competitive investment rates and the
added benefit of assisting other EFCA churches and ministries. (Click here
for more information on investing with CIF.)
The partnership doesn’t stop there! In 2007, the Shamineau Ministries
Board decided to begin a capital campaign to renovate or remodel
buildings ranging from the gym to several cabins to the dining hall and
other necessary infrastructure. Again, they turned to CIF and Ministry
Campaign Services (MCS), a division of CIF that provides full service
capital campaign consulting.
Herb summarized his experiences with CIF and MCS by saying “At every
turn, we have found the Christian Investors personnel to be not only
professional, but personally concerned about our ministry and ready to
offer advice and counsel whenever we have needed it.”
Shamineau Ministries has impacted thousands of lives over the years – of
which this writer is one. CIF and MCS are honored that God uses us to
assist ministries like Shamineau Ministries to “Clear a Way to the
Cross.”
For more information on Shamineau Ministries and Shamineau
International, visit http://shamineau.org.
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